The 2025 Australian Open begins on Sunday, 12 January, marking the first Grand Slam of the season. Qualifying rounds started on 6 January, allowing lower-ranked players a chance to join the main draws, which each feature 128 competitors. This year’s tournament again extends to 15 days, aiming to reduce late-night finishes. The women’s singles final takes place on Saturday, 25 January, followed by the men’s final on Sunday, 26 January.
A major storyline is Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a third consecutive women’s singles title, something not done since Martina Hingis’s run from 1997 to 1999. She will face strong challenges from players such as Iga Swiatek, who returns after a brief doping suspension, and the in-form Coco Gauff, fresh from a United Cup victory with Team USA. Nick Kyrgios is hoping to compete at his home Slam for the first time since 2022 but faces uncertainty due to an abdominal strain.
In the men’s event, defending champion Jannik Sinner aims to replicate his remarkable 2024 success, while he continues to address a doping-related appeal from WADA. Despite these off-court issues, Sinner enters Melbourne Park buoyed by last season’s achievements, which included a US Open title and a Davis Cup triumph for Italy. Top seed Sinner has a possible quarter-final date with Alex de Minaur and could meet Taylor Fritz in a repeat of last year’s US Open final.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic returns as a 10-time champion, joined by new coach Andy Murray. Seeded seventh, Djokovic lines up for a potential quarter-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, who begins his campaign against Alexander Shevchenko. Many will be watching to see how Alcaraz fares, having yet to play a competitive match in 2025, and whether Djokovic’s new coaching arrangement rekindles the Serb’s dominance on hard courts.
Key Dates & Tournament Schedule
Match schedules in Melbourne are divided into day and night sessions, starting at 11:00 local time (midnight GMT) for outer courts and 12:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on show courts. Night sessions begin at 19:00 (08:00 GMT). Prize money continues to rise, with a record 96.5m Australian dollars (£48m) on offer. Both men’s and women’s singles champions receive 3.5m Australian dollars (£1.7m) each.
With its blend of emerging talent, returning champions, and off-court storylines, the Australian Open 2025 promises compelling matches from first ball to last. Fans worldwide will be tracking Sabalenka’s title defence, Djokovic’s search for major number 25, and Sinner’s attempt to hold off rivals while under ongoing scrutiny. All eyes will be on Melbourne Park to see who seizes the season’s opening Grand Slam crown.
How can you watch the Australian Open 2025?
The BBC will provide extensive coverage throughout the fortnight, including daily live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app, with BBC 5 Sports Extra offering radio broadcasts from 07:00 GMT. Meanwhile, US tennis fans can follow the 2025 Australian Open on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, or stream matches live through platforms like ESPN+ (covering all 15 courts), Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV. The women’s and men’s finals will air on BBC Radio 5 Live with expert commentary from Pat Cash and Annabel Croft, while US audiences can catch the finals on ESPN, with over 240 hours of live coverage provided throughout the tournament. Both UK and US viewers can expect regular updates, interviews, and expert analysis as the draws unfold.
